Well board I always wanted to know how hard it is to steal our cars? The Camry,Civic, Accord etc. seem to be a piece of cake to steal. What makes a Benz so hard to steal??

I think the security built into them is just a bit better, but the main reason they are not stolen as much is because they would be harder to get rid of. I don't think there is as much call for Benz parts from your back alley shops,,, IMO.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

If you know how, any car is easy to steal. I will not disclose details, but any late model MBZ can be stolen with a palm pilot/lap top and a few common tools. There is a HUGE market for MBZ's trust me.

Wow, it's nice to be quoted. There's such a large cross section of models represented here, that the answers have to be qualified. I feel very safe with one that has a mechanical key, like my 1980 240D. (Nobody outside of this board would want it anyway) The shielding around it is very stout.

But heed CJ's warning about the new ones - they are all electronic. When the key goes into the 99 E300, it makes a loud 'click' as the key is recognized and the steering wheel lock is retracted. And, as we know, anything can be faked. This is what insurance is for.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Any lock or alarm system can be compromised, but you should not lose sleep over it. In my line of business (industrial tool sales) I am in contact with tools to compromise ALL types of locks and alarms, but a fair amount of my "special" tools are not for sale to the public, but they do exist (master keys, pass key decoders, ingition molders, lock picks, etc..) I can tell you from dealing with Law Enforcement Agencies, towing companies, car distributors at the port, etc...all types of cars get stolen regardless of value, make or model.

I watched David Copperfield still Disney land once! I saw it with my own eyes !

__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776

What can I do short of leaving my key in the ignition to ensure that my car will be stolen?

__________________
Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

I think that the hardest ones to steal would be the W115 and older model MB diesels with the pull start knob. I have to show the inspectors how to start the '59.

I agree with Mr Diesel Power, the start knob would be hard for them. Whenever I take my car for inpection or the tire shop, they would come back to tell me my battery is dead. Now, I always ask them if they know how to start my car when I hand them my key.

jack